The Kâthasaptha (Adûnaic “Infinite Wisdom”) was a theological and philosophical system established in the reign of Zimrêbal Ironhand, the first monarch of Bellakar. It represented a syncretic fusion of Eru‑worship, as known among the Dúnedain, with the indigenous lunar cults of the Bellanarûd, above all the veneration of Ladnóca, the moon‑goddess.
Origins and purpose[]
The Kâthasaptha was not merely a religious reform but a political and metaphysical consolidation. By investing himself as high priest Zimrêbal dissolved the Bellakarian League and unified the realm under a sacral kingship. The doctrine served to legitimate his rule by divine sanction, to harmonise competing traditions within Bellakar and to establish a central cultic centre at Izindutârik, the new fane of Eru.
Core tenets[]
The Kâthasaptha taught that Eru was the source of all being, yet his light was refracted through celestial intermediaries such as Ladnóca, who governed the rhythms of time and fate. The moon served as symbol of reflection, renewal and feminine wisdom that complemented the solar authority embodied by the king. The King‑Priest stood as a living bridge between heaven and earth, uniting rational law and mystical insight.
Ritual and practice[]
Worship was conducted by seasonal rites aligned to the lunar phases and to the Bellakarian calendar, itself reformed under Zimrêbal. Dual altars were maintained, one for Eru as the transcendent and one for Ladnóca as the immanent. Pilgrimage to Izindutârik was counted a sacred obligation, especially at the Festival of the Silver Veil when the moon was full and high in the sky.
Philosophical dimensions[]
The Kâthasaptha emphasised balance between unity and multiplicity, Eru as One manifest through many; the integration of reason and intuition, law and mystery; and sacred kingship conceived as a cosmic vocation rather than mere political authority. It drew upon Númenórean metaphysics, Bellakarian myth and echoes of Elvish cosmology to form a distinctive system that endured for centuries.
Editorial Note: This entry contains speculative or fan-based material — such as fanon, fanfiction, or theory constructs — that may not be directly supported by canonical texts. Interpretations offered here are part of the NNCA’s speculative corpus and should not be mistaken for primary Tolkien sources.